Not many people are introduced to horses by their teacher but that’s exactly how it all began for 18-year-old Nicole Kuklinski of Ironwood, Michigan.

Nicole’s fifth grade teacher invited her out to her ranch one day to ride and she immediately fell in love with the horses and started taking riding lessons. By the time she turned 10 Nicole was competing in open shows in the area and at the county fair with an 18-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. Her first serious show partner was This Chips A Breeze,  a 1999 bay gelding by A Passing Breeze and out of Ima Sassy Lil Chip.

“I showed him in all-around events and was very successful with him, receiving an AQHA Championship, multiple circuit awards, high point titles and a Congress finalist,” Nicole explains. “He was a very special horse and taught me so much.”

Next Nicole teamed with All Natural Me, a 2007 grey mare by Natural Iron and out of a Thoroughbred mare, Willamette 9, that Nicole called “Pebbles.”

“I showed her in Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, Showmanship and Performance Halter Mares,” Nicole says. “The first year I had Pebbles, we ended up going to the Congress and we made the finals in 12-14 Youth Hunter Under Saddle.”

Showing under the direction of Mark and Judy Zeitler, Abrams, Wisconsin, Nicole is currently competing aboard Dancin In My Sleep, a 2005 black AQHA gelding by Too Sleepy To Zip and out of Ready To Dance. “Karl” as he is affectionately known, has earned numerous accolades including a Reserve Congress Championship, a Reichert Futurity Championship and a win at the Tom Powers Futurity.

“This year we are showing in Hunter Under Saddle and Performance Halter geldings,” Nicole says. “Karl is extremely laid back, easy going, and always gives me 110 percent. He is my perfect teammate.”

Last year Nicole and Dancin In My Sleep placed 11th in Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHYA World Show (5th intermediate); finished the show year as Michigan Quarter Horse Association Reserve High-Point Champions in Non-Pro Hunter Under saddle Maturity; and earned an AQHA Superior Award in Hunter Under Saddle. Just last month they placed ninth at the AQHYA World Show in Hunter Under Saddle.

Nicole says the Quarter Horse Congress and the January Show in Venice, Florida are her favorite competitions.

“I really enjoy Venice because the weather is beautiful, the show grounds are wonderful (you can ride everywhere!) and it is just a very relaxing show,” Nicole explains. “I like the Congress because I get to see friends that I don’t see all year, this is a place that we can all meet up. I also like the atmosphere, the shopping and of course showing there.”

Her favorite class to show is Hunter Under Saddle.

“I love the feeling of a big strong hunt horse underneath me,” Nicole says. “I love all the aspects of this class, and just really enjoy riding it. There’s nothing better than riding a good hunt seat horse.”

She has countless awards with horses, but Nicole says her greatest accomplishment was graduating from Saint Andrews Online Catholic Academy in Coral Springs, Florida with a 3.96 grade point average. She is currently enrolled in the Online Program at Gogebic Community College, majoring in business management.

Nicole is an only child. She says her parents, Gary and Jackie Kuklinski are her heroes because “they both are really caring, thoughtful and very supportive. They are my biggest fans and are always there for me no matter what. I cannot thank them enough for all they do for me. I couldn’t imagine life without them.”

When she is not at a show or preparing for a show, Nicole enjoys fishing, swimming, playing tennis, basketball, and spending time with her friends and family. In the winter months, she also loves to ski or snowboard and go snowmobiling.

But her passion is showing.

“I show because it’s what I love to do,” she says. “I love all the aspects of it, from the people, to the horses to even cleaning stalls. I like the competitiveness. I really love to be in the show ring. I couldn’t imagine life without it.”